blog

These Indoor Activities For Toddlers are perfect for winter or a rainy spring or summer day and many will help develop fine motor skills. Plus tips to make them harder for pre-school aged kids.

{Originally published Jan 2017}

Hi Friends!

Today we’re talking indoor toddler activities. I originally wrote this post when my oldest was a toddler. Now my youngest is 2 and the perfect age for a lot of these activities!  

When I was in middle school, I did a lot of babysitting. I had some sort of babysitting certification from The Red Cross and during that course, they gave us the idea of making an activity kit to bring with you when babysitting. Sure, kids like their own toys, but there’s something about new games and activities that is especially exciting and tends to hold their interest longer.

When I was in high school, I had a steady after-school nannying job for a two-year-old (who I realized has now graduated high school and I now feel very old). Anyways, she wasn’t allowed to watch any TV and I spent several hours with her every day….so I had to get creative with things to keep her busy.

When I graduated from college, I worked at a pre-school for 6 months. Although my classroom was 4-5-year-olds, I spent a lot of time in the 2-3-year-old classroom as well.

Now, I follow a lot of kid-focused pages on Facebook and Instagram, I browse Pinterest, I read family magazines and am constantly seeing new ideas I want to try.

Indoor Toddler Activities

This post is a roundup of some of my favorite indoor activities for toddlers that I’ve seen and tried over the years. I’ve tried them all with my kids over the past few years. Note- I took all these pictures on the same day, but I wouldn’t advise trying them all out on the same day!

Remember the new & exciting part? Save them up and try a couple at a time. We’ve got several more months of winter ahead of us!

I also included some ways to make them harder. As kids get older, some of the things they could do six months ago are getting too easy….but there are ways to add a bit of a challenge to most of them, to make them more developmentally appropriate for older toddlers and even preschoolers!

A few months ago I placed an Amazon order to stock up on supplies- you can find them all in my Amazon shop (aff link) but you could probably find a lot of these at the dollar store as well! 

If you need activities for slightly older kids, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten check out my Indoor Activities for Kids or At-Home Activities for Kids posts! And if you like baking, here are some Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes!

Indoor Activities for Toddlers

Balloon Hockey

I blow up a couple of balloons, we each grab a fly swatter and go to town hitting them around the room. I let him hit it around for a while and then we also work on hitting it to keep it up in the air.

Make it harder:

• Set up a goal and let them try to score.
• Have a contest to see how long they can keep it from touching the ground.
• Let them try to keep two balloons in the air at once!

Pom Pom Push

Take a plastic container and cut holes in the top and let them push the pom poms through the holes.

Make it harder: 

• Draw circles around the holes with a marker and let them push the blue pom poms through the blue hole, the green ones through the green holes, etc.
• Set a timer and see how many they can get in the container in 30 seconds or a minute.

Pom Pom Drop

Save your toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Tape them to a door or wall and let them drop the pom poms through.

Make it harder:

• Give them tongs or a clothespin to make picking up the pom poms more challenging.
• Let them tape the tubes up and see if they can get the angles right so the pom poms go through all the tubes on the way down.
• You drop the pom poms from the top and see if they can catch them in the bottom in a small bowl.

Pom Pom Sorting

Have them sort the pom poms into different containers by size or color.

Make it harder: 

• Divide the pom poms in half and have a race to see who can sort theirs the fastest!
• Give them a clothespin to use to pickup and move the pom poms into the different containers.

Straw Threading

Cut plastic straws into pieces. Let them thread the straw pieces onto the pipe cleaners.

Make it harder:

• Have them thread the pieces on in a pattern of colors.

Ring Toss

Twist some pipe cleaners together to make rings and toss them into bowls or buckets.

Make it harder:

• Have them stand farther away.
• Set up multiple buckets and tell them to throw them into a specific one.
• See how many they can get in a row.

Golf Tee Hammering

Poke golf tees into a cardboard box and let them hammer them in.

Make it harder:

• Give them a smaller hammer.
• Tell them which color nails to hammer.
• Let them practice pulling them out and setting them back up again.

Ziploc Bag Fingerpainting

Put a few blogs of paint into Ziploc bags. Seal them tightly and tape to a window or table. Let them fingerpaint just like they would on a piece of paper.

Make it harder:

• Ask them to draw specific shapes or objects.
• Talk about what colors mix together to make new colors.

Card Slot Drop

Cut a slot in the lid of a container and have them drop the cards in.

Make it harder:

• Cut some holes as well and have them put q tips in.
• See how fast they can get them all in.
• Have them put them in by color or number.

Cheerio Threading

Cut pipe cleaners in half and let them push them through the holes of a colander.

Make it harder:

• Give them Cheerios to thread onto the pipe cleaners.

Car Ramp

Draw lanes on a cardboard box to make a car ramp. Let them race their cars down it.

Fun with Cans

See how high they can stack them up. Set them up like bowling pins and let them bowl with a wiffle ball or tennis ball.

Like the ideas in the post? Be sure to pin it and share with your friends!

Clothespin Painting

Attached some cotton balls (or bunched up paper towels if you’re out of cotten balls like i was) to clothespins and let them paint! Work on colors, shapes, etc.

 

Cooking

I wrote a post all about Kitchen Tasks For Toddlers!

Whew! I think that’s enough indoor activities for toddlers for one post. If you’re looking for more ideas, check out this post filled with Cheap Toddler Activities!

---

Like the ideas in this post? Please pin it and share with your friends!

Rainy Day Activities For Toddlers

Let’s chat:

What’s your favorite indoor activity for the kiddos? I’m always looking for new ideas!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Hi friends!

I’m only doing one gift guide this year so I’ve been working hard to make it a good one. This year I’m really making an effort to step away from Amazon and support small businesses and local businesses for my gift-giving. I’ve come up with a list of 45 amazing small businesses to support that I can’t wait to share with you guys. Some of them are local to Columbus or Ohio, some of them are Black-owned, some I found through word of mouth, some on Etsy and many I’ve purchased from already!

Several people asked me how to find small businesses and local businesses to support. Here are a few ways:

1. Search Etsy! They’re great for small businesses in general but they also have great filters so you can filter results by a specific state or city, Black-owned shops, etc.
2. Search local hashtags – Get on Instagram and search some of the local hashtags for your area to find local businesses. Once you find some you like, follow them! They’re often really good about sharing and collaborating with other local businesses so that will help you find more. 
3. Ask in a Facebook group – There are always a few people in every Facebook group who are in the know about all things small business and local!
4. Search your city’s website for a list of shops. You can also check your Chamber of Commerce website. 
5. Use Google! Oftentimes local papers, magazines and bloggers put together shop guides or gift guides that can be a great starting place. 
6. If you’re looking for a certain toy, perhaps one you find on Amazon, seek out a few local toy stores and see if they have it. If they don’t, call them and see if they’d be willing to order it for you! If you have a more general toy like stacking cubes or dolls, search on Etsy and see what options are available!

And now, in no particular order, here are some awesome small businesses to check out. I highly encourage you to spend time clicking through and exploring their websites. I chose one photo from each site for the collages but their sites have so much more worth seeing! Some of these are Etsy shops and are affiliate links. That means I earn a small amount of money if you shop through them at no additional cost to you!

If you need gift ideas, check out my previous gift guides and then search for those ideas on these small business sites:

• Kids Gift Ideas {ages 4-7}
• Toddler Gift Ideas {ages 1-3}
• Best Toys for Multiple Ages
• Best Gifts for Husbands
• Best Gifts for In-laws & Parents

45 Small Businesses To Support

Shown above:

1. Bria Paints – (Black-owned) An amazingly talented artist who paints people, plus some landscape, plants, fruit and more. I bought ‘Balance’ for my office and ‘Sunflower’ for a Christmas gift
2. LoreleiVella – Personalized kitchenware, jewelry and more. I got my kids personalized silicone spatulas for Christmas this year! (aff link)
3. My Sweet Muffin – gifts for babies and kids. So many cute toys, plus room decor, bibs, party supplies and more. I bought Nolan the Play&Go road mat pictured above. It has a drawstring and you can pull it to turn the mat into a storage bag for toys! 
4. Cate and Levi – Handcrafted, eco-friendly toys. They have the cutest puppets, as well as sew your own stuffed animal kits. I got the dog for a winter project to do with Chase!
5. Lovewaves – Sound waves as art. You send in an audio clip of a short phrase like “I do.” or “I love you Mama” and they turn the soundwaves into art.
6. Little Nomad – (Black-owned) Kids clothing and toys plus shoes, books and even clothes for women.
7. Sustainable Home Goods – (Black-owned) A collection of ethical, sustainable and fair-trade items. Kitchen, home decor, jewelry and more.
8. Flux Imagery – (Black-owned) The most whimsical watercolor art and planners. I bought the fairy pictured above for Lyssie’s room. Erika also offers painting and drawing courses on SkillShare.
9. Cookie Society – (Black-owned) Giant, delicious cookies delivered straight to your door! So many flavor options. Marissa also has an amazing food blog – First and Full.

Shown above:

1. Kido – (Black-owned) Toys, books and clothes for kids. 
2. The Fresh Dolls – (Black-owned) A diverse line of multi-cultural dolls for all kids.
3. Fortuna June – A local Columbus company with amazing handwoven beaded earrings. (aff link)
4. Bravery Magazine – A quarterly magazine that features brave women in each issue. I ordered this for my kids when it first came out 3 years ago but they were too young. Getting ready to start subscribing again!
5. Goose Grease – A fair trade company that makes handmade wooden peg dolls. They offer painted sets, DIY kits, custom families and cake toppers.
6. Jamison and Bexley – (Black-owned) A local Columbus kids clothing shop. I connected with Jen the owner, who lives near me! And we bonded over our experience with challenging 3-year-olds 🙂 The clothes in her shop are adorable! (Shopping through my aff link will save you 10%)
7. Wright Kitchen – My mom got me one of her photo books for Christmas last year. I’m obsessed with all her prints. So bright, colorful and amazing using food. She also makes them into puzzles!
8. Treasures from Jennifer – Artisan-crafted, all-natural toys, educational tools, and decor. A friend recommended the bow and arrow shown above and said it’s high quality and easy for her boys to use. I immediately bought one for Chase bc he’s been asking for the past two years. 
9. Semicolon Book Store – Black-owned women-owned bookstore in Chicago but you can always shop online! Here’s a list of Black-owned independent bookstores by state if you want to find one local to you!

Shown above:

1. Tab Knits – Handmade backpacks, purses and pouches. I loved one of her wristlets and asked her if she could turn it into a crossbody for me and she did and it’s wonderful. Perfect for just holding a few cards and cash since I leave the house infrequently and don’t need a big purse. (aff link)
2. Sarah + Abraham – Personalized kids plates, cups, placemats and stationary items. 
3. MKoby Art – (Black-owned) – I just love her art- people and landscapes. Melissa is so talented. I have the print pictured above in my office and have my eye on the Sunset one for my bedroom. (aff link)
4. Game Day Feels – Bracelets, mask chains, key chains, dog tags and more made from baseball glove lace. I bought a bracelet a few years ago and it broke and I just replaced it last week! You can put your own quote on it or choose one of theirs. Mine says “Life is about moments. Don’t wait for them, create them.”
5. Molly & Kate Jewels – Personalized jewelry. I get asked all the time about the necklace I wear with my kids names on it. It’s not from this shop but theirs are almost identical to my bar necklace that I love so much. (aff link)
6. Magic Beans – Based in Boston, they sell all things baby – carseats, strollers, high chairs, bottles, baby monitors but also have a great toy selection!
7. Dig & Co – Sweet supplies for outdoor adventures, garden and kitchen tools, art supplies and more. I love the acorn matching game pictured above as well as the kangaroo pillows!
8. Grace Personalized – Their custom name jewelry is beautiful but I’m in love with their actual handwriting and fingerprint jewelry. I asked for a handwriting bracelet from my parents for Christmas (aff link)
9. More Than Peach Project (Black-owned) Started by a 9 year old. Multi-cultural crayons. The perfect addition to your art supplies.

Shown above:

1. Yaytoonday – (Black-owned) Local to Columbus. Beautiful fabric plant pots, bags, art and more.
2. Puzzle Huddle – (Black-owned) Childrens puzzles featuring diverse characters. They start at 15 pieces and go up to 200 pieces for several skill levels!
3. Red Giraffe Designs – Local to Columbus. Handmade jewelry. I have my eye on the long hammered bar earrings pictured above. (aff link)
4. One Per Week – Beautiful stationary and even a monthly subscription box if you’re looking to get into the habit of sending more snail mail.
5. Native PRINTcess – (Black-owned) Gorgeous handmade catchalls and jewelry dishes. I asked for one for Christmas (aff link)
6. TwoxFourCustomDesign – Personalized signs, home decor etc. Or turn your kid’s handwriting into a sign. Did this last year and it was a big hit with both sets of grandparents. (aff link)
7. Mariya Eleanor Designs – (Black-owned) One-of-a-kind yarn tapestries. So obsessed with these. Mariya is so talented. She’s restocking her shop on Nov 28th.
8. LaurelBox – Heartfelt sympathy gifts for those grieving. Choose a curated box or make your own for someone you know grieving a miscarriage, loss of spouse, battling infertility and more.
9. Little Lily Shop – Mess-free pretend makeup. I got some for Lyssie last Christmas and it’s held up so well! (aff link)

Shown above:

1. Learning Express Toys and Gifts – Several central Ohio stores. It’s a franchise but my father-in-law knows the owners of the Worthington and New Albany locations. You can shop online or find a branch local to you. Tons of toy options for kids.
2. EcoVibe Style – (Black-owned) – Recently found this shop and immediately ordered 2 Christmas presents from them. An awesome collection of apparel, home decor, plants, gardening supplies, pillows, kitchenware, furniture and more.
3. Collisionware – Adorable oven mitts and finger mitts. I bought some for my kids this year.
4. Dope Coffee – (Black-owned) – If you have a coffee lover in your life, the holidays are a great time to help them test out a new brand!
5. The Crafty Swirl – (Black-owned) – Gorgeous two-toned hanging shelves. Some even have holes for potted plants. So cute!
6. ElemenOPillows – If you need pillow covers, Karen is your lady! She’s a family friend and makes great pillow covers in pretty much any fabric you could ever want. (aff link)
7. Planthropy – Local to Columbus. The coolest living moss wall art.
8. ARCHd – Homemade decor on wood and marble. I love their wood art.
9. Wildflower Art Studio – DIY Kits that teach you how to do fun things like watercolor, hand lettering, caligraphy and more! (aff link)

———

Two others I love that are sold out until 2022 but still worth checking out Ettavee and Harper Iman Dolls! 

If you’re buying board games for people, consider searching for a local game store. Guard Tower is one local to Columbus but you can probably find one in your area! If you’re looking for game suggestions for kids at different ages, follow my friend Danielle @boardgamebabies on Instagram or check out her blog.

Happy shopping!
–Lindsay–